Paul Epworth and Adele with their Oscars for best original song alongside Richard Gere. Picture: Ian West/PA Wire

The recognition for his performance in the title role of Steven Spielberg’s biopic of US President Abraham Lincoln puts him above Hollywood legends including Dustin Hoffman and Marlon Brando who both won it twice.

Accepting his award from Meryl Streep, Day-Lewis told the audience: “I really don’t know how any of this happened.”

He also paid tribute to his wife, before tearfully thanking his mother.

Other British winners included Tottenham-born singer Adele, who won best song for her theme tune to the Bond film Skyfall.

She thanked her songwriting partner Paul Epworth, who came on stage with her, for “believing in me all the time, and my man, I love you baby”.

Earlier she had performed the song on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood - the first time she had ever sung it live.

The award for costume design went to Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina.

The British designer said the win was “completely overwhelming” and paid tribute to her children who were “fast asleep in England”.

Jennifer Lawrence with her award for best actress received for her role in Silver Linings Playbook during the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles. Picture: Ian West/PA Wire

There was another UK win when the Oscar for makeup and hairstyling was won by Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell for Les Miserables.

Big winners on the night were Anne Hathaway, named best supporting actress for her role in Les Miserables, Jennifer Lawrence who won best actress and Ben Affleck’s Argo, which won best film.

Ang Lee was named best director for Life Of Pi.

There were also wins for Quentin Tarantino’s western Django Unchained with Christoph Waltz named best supporting actor, while Tarantino picked up the Oscar for original screenplay telling his fellow writers: “You guys are so wonderful. Peace out.”

The Oscar for best original score went to Mychael Danna for Life Of Pi, the Oscar for adapted screenplay went to Chris Terrio for Argo before the nominees for best film were introduced by first lady Michelle Obama from the White House.

The show’s host Seth MacFarlane, the man behind hit cartoon Family Guy, started proceedings by poking fun at the Academy for not nominating Affleck for his directing Argo which about a CIA scheme to free American hostages in Iran, saying the plan was “so top secret the film’s director is unknown to the academy”.

The award for best animated short film went to Disney’s Paperman, meaning National Film and Television School students Timothy Reckart and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly missed out on an Oscar.

The Oscar for animated feature film went to Brave - a cartoon set in the Scottish Highlands and featuring the voices of Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson and Julie Walters.

Quentin Tarantino with the Oscar for best original screenplay for Django Unchained. Picture: Ian West/PA Wire

The prize for cinematography went to Claudio Miranda for Life Of Pi with the film, based on Yann Martel’s award-winning novel, also picking up the Oscar for visual effects.

Halle Berry - a one-time Bond girl - introduced a tribute to the Bond films and music made up of classic clips of 007’s adventures, which continued with Dame Shirley Bassey singing the theme to the 1964 film Goldfinger which was given a standing ovation from the assembled stars.

Saturday Night Fever star John Travolta then introduced a celebration of movie musicals which featured clips from Chicago before one of its stars, Catherine Zeta Jones, appeared on stage to sing All That Jazz.

She was followed by DreamGirls star Jennifer Hudson and then members of the cast of Les Miserables, including Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne and Hugh Jackman, performed One Day More from the hit film.

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